Study of the reaction of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-о-benzoquinone with organozinc and organocadmium compounds

Abstract

The effect of substituents in the reactions of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-о-benzoquinone with organozinc and organocadmium compounds, leading to three types of products: 3-alkyl-6-tert-butyl-о-benzoquinones, 4-alkyl-3,6-di-tert-butyl-о-benzoquinones, and 2-alkoxy-(or 2-phenoxy)-3,6-di-tert-butylphenols. Correlation analysis gave evidence to show that the first- and second-type products are formed by nucleophilic 1,2- and 1,4-addition, while substituted phenols result from single-electron transfer.